Automatic fade signal for motion-picture reels



Aug. 2.6, 1930. Y J. H. STANFIELD 1,774,298

AUTOMATIC FADE SIGNAL FOR MOTION PICTURE HEELS Filedbct. 3, 192 9 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

gwvemtoz James H dzmfzczag dttozmq g- J. H. STANFIELD AUTOMATIC FADE SIGNAL FOR MOTION PICTURE HEELS Filed v0012, 3 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1O of the reel with the exception of the tongue 11 which is exterior to the core and Patented Aug; 2 6, r

1r. sranrrntn, OFUKAUFMAN, rnxns-as'srenon or onnrounrn T ALBERT n.

WALKER; on'nmonnrn Too. A. oozinrlmivgnnnonn OFKAUFMAN; TnxAs I -FOURTHTO T. A. COLEMAN,

nurolvmrrol rann swim-r, non MOTION-,PICTURE REELS Applieationhfiled October 3, 1929.-serial'1\io. 397,096. Y

The. object of the inventionisto provide a me 11$ for incorporation in the reel structurefof motion picture'fmachines to give'a Qoontinuous audible signal to the operator in.- .dicating the approaching end of the film,j.so

that he may be prepared to avoid what is conventionally known as awhitesoreen, to provide a device of this character WlllCll maybe set to operate with varying numbers of oonvolutions or turns tr films on the reel, so,tl'1at actuation may be had when thereiscomparatively few turnsleft, or a greater 'number of. turns, if occasion demands, as where an operatormay i have uties taking, him away from the machine vand would desirea signal at an earlier time tha'n iwould; otherwise be required; and to provide a signalling apparatus of the type indioatedwhichis ofifsimple form and thereforeflsusceptible of cheap manufacture and "blow marketing cost. 3 v c this object in view the invention consists inxaconst'ruetion and'combination ,ings', wherein: i to g A g fifigure' 11s a side elevatlonal vle-w, showi so ' t Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line of parts of which apreferred embodiment is illustrated, in the accompanying draw ing; a motion "picture reel equipped with the invention. v I i Figure 2 is an edge view.-

indicatedby 3 3 ofFigure 2. t

Figure 4' is a sectional view sim lar to Figure 3 but showing the released position of the parts. I in c c Figure 5is a detail view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the signal, actuating means. The apparatus is housed within the core adapted for insertion between adjacent convolutions of films.v The tongue when engaged between the convolutions ofa film holds retracted theoross-head l2'which is carried by a slide 14-, the latter being movable longitudinally of a guide 15 which is disposed radially of the reel. The crosshead is drawn normally inwardly by means of tension springs 16 terminallysecured'to 1t and anchored Movement of at points in the core. 7 thecross-head in its slide efiects movement of the clapper bar 17 the latter being designed for rotary movement during which its with i the signal pivotally A mounted means of screws erlng form and gong'jl9 the pawls being on the clapper bar by 20 The pawls are of tapthe pivot screws 20 pass through them at the ends remote from the pointed termina of the clapper wardly from the axis of rotation thereof that in the rotation bar,

the pawls swing outand in-position tocontact-with the periphery of the bell or gong 19.1 a

carried is transl to 'eifectla b l of the-clapper bar 1 "The sliding or longitudinal movement of the sliderl lfon which the cross-head 12 is pawls 18 are impacted" ated into rotary movement 1 to this end there is provided a rack bar .21 which is" connected with the cross-head by means of the screw 23 and its teeth meshing" 1 I with the teeth of a, pinion 24: of a, speed multiplying gearing 25, the terminal gear 26' of which meshes with a pinion 27 carried secured The-slide 14 on the shaft 28 to which the clapper bar is 7 moves toward a and away from the hub 28; of-the reel and when posiholds the slide i when the tongue "the oonvolutions of film 11 its outward position and is released, the springs are free to" act, drawing 'the slide and cross- Vhead. inwardly and thereby effecting longie 'tudinal "movement. of the rack barwith' the consequent actuation of the speed multiply ing' gear and the clapper bar, th'elatter by successive impacts of the. pawlson thegong soundinga continuous signal.

Since the tongue, film must assume a, position outof obstruct- --ing relation with the latter, it has 3 hinge when released by: the

con'nection29 with the slide which permits enterth e guide. inner periphery bears laterally a A spring 30 secured to the of the rim of the core 10 gainst the slide when posi so 1 tioned remote fromthe hub, the springs 16 are extended. The tongue 11,, when engaged between itflto swing outwardlywhen released and to adjacent convolutions of film,

tioned away from the hub 28 and is brought into bearing engagement with the tongue when the latter enters the guide, keeping the tongue well outwardly so that it may not engage with the edge of the film as the final convolutions are unwound.

When the film is placed first few convolutions are laid with the tongue free, then the slide is drawn radially outwards and the tongue folded down, after which the laying of the film is continued until completed. \Vhen the tongue is thus engaged, the slide and cross-head are in positions to be actuated by the springs, and the signal thereby sounded, when the tongue is released.

To provide for radially drawing the slide outwardly, to permit ready setting of the tongue, a finger knob 31 is employed, this being secured to the slide 14: by means of a stem 32 passing through a slot 83 formed in one wall of the core.

By reason of the slide being mounted in a guide and the tongue having a hinge connection with the former, the springs 16 may be made relatively strong without likelihood of damage to the film at the instant of release of the tongue, since the guide ensures the slide moving always in a plane at right angles to and adjacent the edge of the film. Thus the fulcrum point of the tongue, at the moment of release, is positioned where no great force may be applied to it tending to tear the film, while the potential energy of the springs is sufficient to efiect the operation of the speed multiplying gearing to effect a continuous sounding of the gong.

The invention having been described what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In combination with a motion picture reel having a hollow core, an audible signal mounted in said core, means for effecting a continuous sounding of the signal, a spring actuated slide comprised in said sounding means, and a tongue for insertion between adjacent convolutions of film, said tongue having a hinge connection with said slide.

2. In combination with a motion picture reel having a hollow core, an audible signal mounted in said core, means for effecting a continuous sounding of the signal, a spring actuated slide comprised in said sounding means, and a tongue for insertion between said tongue having a hinge connection with said slide, the slide having a finger knob to effect its movement manually in opposition to said spring.

3. In combination with a motion picture reel having a hollow core, a gong mounted within the core, a rotary clapper mounted for impact with the gong, means for actuating the clapper, springs for effecting movement of said means in one direction, and film controlled means for retaining the clapper on the reel, the

actuating means in the position where the springs are extended.

4:. In combination with a motion picture reel having a hollow core, a signal gong mounted in said core, a rotary clapper member mounted for successive impacts with the gong when rotated, a slide mounted for movement radially of the reel and having a folding tongue for insertion between adjacent convolutions of a film found thereon, operative connections between the slide and the clapper, and tension springs for moving the slide radially inward.

5. In combination with a motion picture reel having a hollow core, a signal gong mounted within the core, a rotary clapper bar having terminal pivotally mounted pawls for successive impact with the ong when the bar is rotated, a slide mounte for movement radially of the reel, a rack bar having operative connection with said slide, speed multiplying gearing between said rack bar and said gripper bar, springs for effecting radial inward movement of the slide, and a tongue having a hinge connection with the slide and adapted for insertion between adjacent convolutions of film to retain the slide in a position where said springs are extended.

6. In combination with a motion picture reel having a hollow core, a signa gong mounted in said core, means for effecting a continuous sounding of the gong, said means including a slide movable radially of the reel and a guide in which said slide is mounted, and a tongue having a hinge connection with said slide and adapted for insertion between adjacent convolutions film.

7 In combination with a reel having a hollow core, a signal gong mounted in said core, means for effecting a continuous sounding of the gong,said means including a slide movable radially of the reel and a guide in which said slide is mounted, a tongue having a hinge connection with said slide and adapted for insertion between adjacent convolutions of film, and a spring bearing laterally on the slide and adapted for engagement in lateral bearing upon the tongue upon radial inward movement of the slide. 1

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signa.- ture.

JAMES H. STANFIELD.

motion picture 

